Sheet metal bender



Nov. 2, 1965 E. B. VOTH SHEET METAL BENDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1961 I NVENTOR. EDI/WV 5. l/OTH A 7' TORNE Y5 Nov. 2, 1965 B. voT 3,214,955

SHEET METAL BENDER Filed Nov. 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDW/A/ 5. V0 7' H ATTORNEYS E. B. VOTH SHEET METAL BENDER Nov. 2, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 14. 1961 J v w INVENTOR. EDI WV 5. V0772 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,214,955 SHEET METAL BENDER Edwin B. Voth, San Carlos, Calif., assignor to The Foundry Equipment Co., Cleveland, Ohio Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 152,260 7 Claims. (Cl. 72-389) This invention relates to a sheet metal blender and has for one of its objects the provision of a sheet metal bender that is adapted to form many different bends in sheet metal within appreciably less time than heretofore, and with less handling of materials where a plurality of identical separate sheet metal items are to be produced, each having a plurality of bends.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal bender that is economical to make, rugged, and operable by a single operator for quickly forming many different bends in elongated strips, longitudinally of such strips, up to and longer than ten feet.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal bender that is adapted to be efficiently operated by one operator, who may also handle the metal being bent, throughout the bending steps, and inwhich machine provision is made for changing the degree of movement of the punch after each bending operation to a different predetermined distance within a matter of seconds.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal bender in which an elongated die member having punch receiving recesses of different cross sectional contours may be quickly changed to position any one of said recesses in punch receiving relation by an operator positioned at substantially any point intermediate the ends of said die, and which die may be ten feet, and upwards thereof, in length, whereby such operator may make different die changes while positioning and holding the strip of metal to be bent.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal bender having a rotary punch control mechanism provided with means for positively limiting the movement of the punch in its bending stroke to different predetermined distances according to different positions of said rotary punch control mechanism, about a horizontal axis, and which punch control mechanism is adapted to be actuated by the operator that manipulates the metal sheet that is being bent, and while such operator holds such sheet and is in sheet manipulating position at one side of the punch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of die means in a sheet metal bender that enables an operator to quickly convert one die element into a different one for making a different bend without changing or rotating the original die, and a still further object of the invention is the provision of auxiliary punch means in combination with a conventional punch that quickly enables the punch to perform a bend in addition to the bend performed by the punch means before the auxiliary means is added.

In explanation of some of the above objects, heretofore when a plurality of separate identical sheet metal items are to be made, from corresponding sheets or strips of sheet metal, each having a plurality of bends of different angles extending longitudinally thereof, the usual procedure is to make one bend of the same angle in all of the sheets or strips, employing a die having the desired cross sectional contour for such bend. Each sheet is picked up by the operator, carried to the bender, positioned on the die that is below the punch; the punch is actuated, the sheet is then set to one side, the next sheet is picked up and the cycle is repeated until the one bend is made in all of the sheets or strips.

Assuming each sheet is to have four different bends,

3,214,955 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 the die may be changed between each bend, but the same five steps are repeated, in sequence, for each bend.

With the present invention, many, if not all, of the different bends may be formed without changing the die, and all are performed without changing the punch, but all of the four bends are formed, in a predetermined sequence while the operator holds the sheet over the die, and manipulates the sheet by merely moving it to the desired positions for the different bends. Where a change in the die may be required for one or more bends, provision is made for changing the die in a matter of seconds while the sheet is supported on the die, and while the operator holds the sheet. The making of the different bends in the same die or different dies is accomplished by positive means that limits the degree of movement of the punch in each punching operation to a predetermined distance, and which means is under the positive control of the operator holding sheet metal that is being bent without such operator being required to move from sheet holding position at one side of the sheet metal bender.

It may be noted at this point that a sheet metal bender such as shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,456,749 issued December 21, 1948 to J. Steibel, or a Press Brake as shown in copending application Serial No. 840,585 filed September 17, 1959 by Laffie Harper, and now Patent No. 3,029,858, issued on April 17, 1962, show dies that are readily changeable, but the means for chang ing the dies While the operator is at one side of each bender intermediate its ends and holding a sheet metal to be bent is not possible, since such dies are ten feet and upward in length and in any event, in both said patent and in said application, the die is positively locked in each of its positions requiring the operator to move to at least one end of the die and to manually pull out a lock-ing pin to release the die for rotating the latter.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawings.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a sheet metal bender that embodies the present invention, the rotatable die being broken away at the far end where it is journalled for rotation in one of the end frame members.

FIG. 2 is a fram'entary end elevational view of the upper portion of the bender, but housing shown in FIG. 1 that normally substantially covers a portion of the structure illustrated is removed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of one of the end portions of the bender, at right angles to the view of FIG. 2, showing the means for limiting movement of the punch.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view at line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing a slightly different arrangement for the means for limiting downward movement of the punch.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional part elevational View taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 show a few of the different cross sectional contours in sheet metal adapted 'to be formed by the die and punch shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary part cross sectional and part isometric view of a punch structure that is adapted to be quickly modified to form the bend seen in FIG. 11 of the one shown in FIG. 10, and which view (FIG. 10) also shows a structure adapted to enable forming the bend of FIGS. 10 and 11 on the die shown in FIG. 4.

In detail, the sheet metal bender illustrated is in many respects substantially the same as the press brake of Laffie Harper as shown in said copending application in that it includes horizontally spaced, opposed, vertically disposed frame members 1 in which the opposite cylindrical ends of a horizontally elongated rotary die 2 are journalled for rotation. The portion of die 2 intermediate its ends is rotatably supported on a generally semicylindrical upwardly directed seat formed in the upper edge of a cross frame member 3 connecting said end frame members or in a bolster seated in the latter, such as is shown in said copending application. The cylindrical surface of the die is complementary to the contour of the seat supporting the die.

The ram, generally designated 4, extends horizontally across the machine between the end frame members 1 and has end portions 5 (FIG. 3) that extend through vertically extending slots 6 (FIG. 2) formed in the upper end portions of said frame members, said end portions being vertically reciprocable in said slots.

The ram itself is in the form of a vertically disposed, horizontally elongated plate, the lower edge of which may be recessed, as shown at 7 in FIG. 4 into which recess a rib 8 on a horizontally extending punch 9 extends. A clamping plate 10 extending longitudinally of the punch and ram, clamps the rib 8 in recess 7 and a horizontal row of spaced stud bolts 11 extend through the clamping plate 10 and into the ram 4 for releasably securing the punch to the ram and in a position over the die 2.

Housings 12 may respectively be secured to the end frame members 1 over the oppositely outwardly facing sides of the pair of members 1 to enclose the hydraulic cylinders and piston rods that are connected with the ram, as will be later described.

The opposite ends of die 2 rotatably extend through openings in the housings 12 and a radially outwardly extending arm 13 (FIG. 1) is secured at one end to each projecting end of the die. A member 14 may be rigidly secured to each arm, and each member 14 carries a spring urged detent 15 that has a rounded end yieldably and frictionally held in one of an arcuate row of complementarily formed recesses 16 in the side of the housing 12 adjacent thereto.

There is one recess in each housing for each of the several recesses 17 formed in die 2. While different numbers of said recesses may be formed in die 2,1only three are shown in FIG. 4 which are numbered 17, 18 and 19, and recess 19 is uppermost-facing and directly below the punch 9. The cross sectional contour of the recess 19 provides adjoining sides at right angles to each other, and this right angle contour is complementary to thatof the portion of the die 9 that is adapted to substantially seat in the recess 19 in one of the punching positions.

The end portions 5 of the ram each have a cross bar 21 that extends to opposite sides of portions 5, and the outer ends ofeach cross bar 21 are connected with one of the upper ends of a pair of vertical rods 22. The lower ends of each pair of said rods 22 connect with the ends of a bar 23 similar to the bar 21 thereabove, and the central portion of each bar 23 is secured to the upper end of a vertically extending hydraulically actuated piston rod 24, which, in turn extends into a hydraulic cylinder 25 that is rigid with each frame member 1. This is substantially the same structure as shown in the aforesaid copending application, insofar as the connection between the ram and hydraulic cylinders is concerned. Upon admission of fluid under pressure into the upper ends of cylinders 25 the ram 4 and the punch 9 that are rigid therewith are moved downwardly into bending engagement with the sheet metal piece extending over the die.

The hydraulically actuated pistons may be moved upwardly under the influence of conventional springs after each bending operation, and any of the conventional treadle, foot actuatable valves 26 in the hydraulic pressure lines leading to the cylinders may be used for opening and closing the lines to flow of fluid to the cylinders, and for exhausting the fluid above the pistons to enable the upward movement of the ram after each bending operation. Usually motor driven pumps are used to provide the fluid pressure required, all of which is old in the art. The foot, or manually actuatable valve 26 is positioned to be accessible to an operator at the side of the bender and intermediate the ends of the latter.

Heretofore different bends in a sheet or strip of metal formed by a press brake or bender using a rotary die generally as shown in said Patent No. 2,456,749 or in said application Serial No. 840,585 have been accomplished by rotating the die after each punching operation has been completed in the number of sheets requiring a particular bend, so that the next bend will be formed in another of the recesses in the die that is below the punch. The punch is then changed to conform in cross sectional contour to the newly positioned recess. However, the operator was required to move to at least one end of the machine and to unlock the handle so the die could be rotated.

In the present instance, the die 2 is rotatable, but is yieldably held in each of its different positions by means that is preferably at each of the opposite ends of the machine.

As seen in FIG. 1 each member 14 that is rigid with each arm 13 is pivotally connected at its outer end with one end of a connecting arm 30. The opposite end of each arm 30 is pivotally connected to the outer end of an arm 31,'while the inner end of each arm 31 is secured to one of the opposite ends of a horizontal shaft 32. Shaft 32, in turn, extends horizontally across the side of frame member 3 at which an operator stands while positioning and holding a sheet metal strip on die 2 for bending said strip.

This shaft 32 is rotatably supported in bearings 33 that are rigid with the frame of the machine. A handle 34 is secured at one end to shaft 32 and extends radially outwardly of said shaft so that swinging of the handle will effect rotation of the shaft 32 in one direction or the other according to the direction in which the handle is swung. Said handle 34 is positioned generally midway between the end frame members 1 and at a point where the operator may grasp it with one hand, while holding with the other hand the sheet of metal that is to be bent upon actuation of the treadle valve 26 by a foot of the operator.

Upon swinging the handle 34, the detents 15 will be forceably withdrawn from the recesses in which they are seated, and will move to the next pair of recesses (one at each end of the machine) where they will automatically be yieldably held for holding the die in a position with one of the other of recesses 17-18 below the punch.

It has already been pointed out that the die may be ten feet or longer in length, hence it is important that an operator at a point midway between the end frame members 1 be able to not only rotate the die from said point, but also actuate the punch from the same point, which result is made possible by the structure described.

One of the main features of this invention is the provision of means in a bender of the type described for positively limiting the movement of the punch toward the die to two or more predetermined distances.

In explanation of the above, reference is made to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 as an example of different bends that may be made with the same die, but by positively limiting the stroke of the punch to different distances.

For example, referring to FIG. 8, the bends designated 35, 36, 37, or others of different angles are in a strip or sheet 38 and all may be made, without changing the die, by merely limiting the degree of movement of the same punch into the same die.

Referring to FIG. 4 the substantially right angle recess 19 is in a position below the right angle punch 9. A full stroke or downward movement of the punch would form the bend 37, which would not vary in any sheet of the same characteristics. The bend 35 would be formed where the downward movement of the punch into recess 19 is relatively limited, but once the point in the movement of the punch at which such bend is permanently formed, the same bend will be formed in any sheet having the same characteristics as the first one.

The bend 36 will be formed at a different point in the downward movement of the punch than bends 35, 37.

FIG. 7 shows bends 39, 40 in a sheet or strip 41, while FIG. 9 shows bends 42, 43 in a sheet or strip 44. All of these bends may also be made without changing the punch or the die.

Referring to FIGS. l3, a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically upwardly extending extensions 48 are securely bolted by bolts 47 against each of the end portions 5 of ram 4, so as to be rigid with said ram and movable therewith.

A generally circular member 49 of substantial thickness is positioned between each pair of upward extensions 48. Since these members are the same, a description of one will sufiice for both.

Member 49 is centrally secured on a shaft 50 coaxial with said member, and which shaft, in turn, projects at its ends oppositely outwardly of the opposite sides of member 49. The projecting ends of shaft 50 are journalled for rotation in the extensions 48 at opposite sides thereof. A set screw 51 extending radially through member 49 may adjustably secure the latter on said shaft 50. These shafts 50 at opposite ends of the ram are coaxial.

Each member 49 is formed with a plurality of radially outwardly opening internally threaded passageways in each of which a stud bolt 52 is threadedly held in a position extending radially outwardly therefrom, with the head 53 of each bolt on its outwardly projecting end, and with a lock nut 54 between the head 53 and member 49 adapted to positively lock each bolt in a predetermined position (FIG. 2).

Preferably these bolts may be equally spaced around the periphery of the member 49, although this is not necessarily essential.

Between the member 49 and the inner extension 48- that is nearest the center of the ram, is an arm 57 (FIG. 2) that is freely rotatable at one end on shaft 50, and formed with or secured to the side of member 49 adjacent thereto may be a ring 58 having a ratchet tooth 59 in a position corresponding to each bolt 52. The arm 57 itself carries a spring urged pawl 60 that is adapted to successively engage each tooth 59 upon oscillatory movement of the handle.

The member 49 carries a spring urged detent 61 (FIG. 3) that is adapted to seat in each recess 62 formed in a side of the member 48 that is adjacent thereto.

The detent 61 may be in either of the extensions 48, and the recesses are on radial lines spaced around the axis the same distances as bolts 52.

Each arm 57 is pivotally connected at its outer end with one end of a connecting rod 63 (FIG. 1) while the other end of rod 63 is pivotally connected with one end of an arm 64. Thus there are corresponding arms 57, rods 63 and arms 64 at opposite ends of the ram 4 and carried by said ram.

A horizontal shaft 68 extends horizontally of the ram 4 and bearings 65 on said ram support said shaft for rotation. The side of the ram on which said shaft 64 is carried is the side at which the operator stands while manipulating the sheet metal to be bent, and the machine itself.

The ends of arms 64 that are remote from the connecting rods 63 are secured to the ends of shaft 68.

Intermediate the ends of shaft "68 is a handle 70 that is secured to said shaft at one of its ends and that projects radially outwardly of said shaft.

From the foregoing structure it is seen that the operator at a position centrally between the ends of the die may manually move handle 70 upwardly, whereby the pawl will engage the next tooth 59, and upon swinging the handle downwardly the members 49 will be simultaneously rotated clockwise (as seen in FIG. 1) until the detents will seat in the next recesses in members 49 following the ones from which they were withdrawn. A stop 66 adapted to be adjustably secured on shaft 68 is adapted to limit the downward movement of the handle so the members 49 will not be rotated past positions in which one of the bolts 52 extends directly vertically downwardly.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a cross bar 67 that is rigidly bolted onto the upper ends of frame members 1 in pOSitions extending through a vertical slot 69 in each end portion 5 of the ram, the sides of which are in downward extensions of adjacent sides of each pair of upward extensions 48 (FIG. 3). A cross bar 67 will thus be seen to be below each member 49.

In a bending operation such as for making the bends of FIG. 8, the operator may adjust three of the bolts 52 so that the ram 5 will descend to make bend 37, with the stop member 67 limiting the downward movement of the ram. The operator will thereafter oscillate handle 70 to move the next bolt 52 to a position over stop member 67, and after adjusting the strip 38 for making the bend 36 along the desired line, the ram will be actuated by foot actuation of the hydraulic valve 26 to effect a second downward movement of the mm, the bolt 52 that is over the stop member 67 having been adjusted to limit the downward movement of the ram for making the bend 36.

The third oscillation of handle 70 will move the next bolt 52 to a position directly over the stop member, which has been adjusted to limit the downward movement of the ram for making bend 35.

The strip 38 will then have been completed, and the same steps will be repeated, in succession, for each strip thereafter, and each strip will be identical with the preceding strip.

Obviously the rotary bolt carrying member 49 may carry any desired number of bolts 52 for making any desired number of bends, and for each different job, the bolts may be readjusted.

On the other hand, different members 49 having sets of bolts at different settings may be used, so as to speed up the change from one set for making one series of bends to another set for making a different series. this case, the members 49 could obviously be cast or formed with fixed projections projecting from the body of each member the desired different distances.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modification of the form shown in FIGS. 1-4. In FIGS. 5, 6 the members may be substantially identical to members 49, but instead of being on the ram, they are either supported on the cylindrical ends of the die or on stub shafts carried by the end frame members should the die be stationary and terminate short of the end frame members. In the drawings they are on the die, and are supported below the end portions of the ram 77.

Arms 78 (FIG. 6) similar to arms 57 each carry a spring urged pawl 79 for successively engaging teeth on a ratchet ring 80 that is rigid with each member 75, the same as has been described for arms 57, the arms 78 being rotatable on the ends of the die.

The members 75 are held in corresponding positions by spring urged detents 81 (FIG. 5) that are adapted to yieldably seat in recesses in the sides of the members 75 adjacent thereto, or such detents could obviously be carried by the members 75 and yieldably seat in recesses for-med in the sides of the end frame members that are adjacent thereto.

A bar may connect arms 78 and if desired this bar may be directly grasped by the operator and swung downwardly for rotating the members 75 to different positions of the bolts 84 that are carried on members 75 in the same manner as bolts 52 are carried by members 49.

The portions 85 of the ram, which substantially correspond to end portions 5 of ram 4 extend over the members 75, hence the bolts 84 function to limit the down- Inv ward movement of the ram in substantially the same manner as the bolts 52 function in FIG. 1, the only difference being that the bolts 84 are supported on the frame and engage the end portions of the ram, while the bolts 52 are carried by the ram and engage a stationary member on the frame.

In both forms of the invention, the downward movement of the punch is positively limited by bolts 52 or 84 that are at opposite ends of the ram under full hydraulic pressure at both ends, hence, once the bolts are 'set to insure the punch being parallelWith the die and to make the bend to the desired depth, the bolts 52 or 84 will coact with the rigid stop members 67 or 85 to insure that both ends of the ram will move under said pressure to exactly the same parallel position with each downward movement of the Punch and ram irrespective of any variations in the characteristics of the sheet material and looseness in the ram that would cause a variation in the position of one end of the punch relative to the die and thereby result in a bend that is deeper at one end than at the other.

It is obvious that the means for rotating the members 49 or 75 lends itself to automatic actuation upon each of the successive movements of the ram, if desired, and different means may be employed for rotating said members.

It has been mentioned that the use of the machine has also been expanded by means enabling it to make bends 'beyond those that are adapted to be formed by use of the die .1.

In a rotary die of the type disclosed, there is a limit to the number and depth of the recesses that can be formed therein, and items that cannot heretofore be conveniently made are gravel stops and tap-ins.

When die 2 is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and the upwardly opening recess 19 is adapted to support therein an auxiliary die 90 having the same cross sectional contour of the recess 19.

This auxiliary die 90 may be formed with a relatively deep central, narrow parallel-sided recess 91 extending longitudinally of die 2 and die 90. The upper surface 92 of the auxiliary die 90 is at right angles to the vertical width of recess 91.

By inserting the upper marginal portion of a vertically diposed blade-like horizontally elongated punch 94 in recess 7 in the lower edge of the ram together with horizontally elongated plates 95, 96 secured against opposite sides of said punch, a conventional tap-in 97 may be formed in which coplanar flanges 99, 100 extend oppositely outwardly at right angles from a central depending rib 101. The plates 95, 96 terminate along their lower edges short of the lower edge of the punch 94 so that the lower marginal portion of the punch will pass into recess 91 of the auxiliary die to form the rib 101, while the lower edges of the plates 95, 96, which are parallel with surfaces 92 of the auxiliary die, will form the flanges 99, 100.

By removing the screws 105 that hold the plate 96 against one side of the punch 94, a gravel stop 106 (FIG. 11) is formed in which flange 107 is the same as flange 99, but the other marginal portion 108 of the gravel stop is not bent, but is planar with rib 109, the latter being the same as rib 101.

It is seen that to form recess 101 in the die 2 would substantially weaken the die, while by using the auxiliary die no such weakness occurs.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes are within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a sheet metal bender having (a) a frame and i (b) a vertically reciprocable horizontally elongated ram mounted thereon, which ram carries (c) a horizontally elongated punch extending longitudinally of said ram projecting downwardly therefrom and secured to said ram for movement there with,

(d) a horizontally elongated die supported on said frame directly below said die in a position extending longitudinally of said punch,

(e) said die having an upwardly opening elongated recess formed therein extending longitudinally of said die for receiving said punch therein upon downward movement of said ram,

(f) power means connected with said ram for moving it downwardly for so moving said punch into said die under predetermined pressure,

(g) a pair of rigid stop means respectively on said ram and on said frame at each of the opposite ends of said ram engageable with each other upon downward movement of said ram a sufiicient distance to carry said punch to a predetermined distance within said recess and to positively stop said downward movement of said punch immediately upon engagement between said rigid stop means of each pair thereof and to hold said punch at said predetermined distance under said pressure,

(h) and adjusting means connected with one means of said pair for positioning it different distances from the other means of said pair to thereby limit the movement of said punch to diflerent predetermined distances within said recess,

(i) actuating means connected with said adjusting means for so positioning said one means at said different distances.

2. In a construction as defined in claim 1, plus:

(j) said last mentioned means being manually actuatable and accessible to the hand of an operator in a sheet handling position at one side of said die centrally between the ends of the latter, whereby said operator is enabled to change the degree of movement of said ram without releasing the sheet of metal being bent.

3. In a sheet bending machine having (a) a rigid frame providing (b) a pair of vertically disposed, horizontally spaced opposed end frame members and (c) a horizontally elongated rigid cross frame member extending between and connecting the lower portions of said vertically disposed frame members,

(d) said cross frame member having a horizontally elongated die therein extending longitudinally thereof and (e) a horizontally elongated upwardly opening recess in said die extending longitudinally thereof;

(f) a horizontally elongated ram extending longitudinally of said die directly over the latter and (g) a horizontally elongated punch rigidly secured to said ram projecting downwardly therefrom in a position for entering said recess upon downward movement of said ram;

(h) guide means on the upper ends of said end frame members for guiding said ram for vertical downward movement thereof,

(i) power means connected with said ram for moving it downwardly toward said die under a predetermined pressure and to a position in which said punch is within said recess, 7

(j) a pair of coaxial rotary members supported on the opposite end portions of said ram for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel with that of said ram,

(k) a plurality of corresponding projections on and rigid with said pair of members projecting radially outwardly relative to said axis to difierent predetermined distances;

(l) member actuating means connected with said members for positioning said members so that projections 9 that project the same distance from said axis are opposite to each other and for moving said members simultaneously about said axis so that different corresponding pairs of projections on said members may be simultaneously moved to project downwardly upon actuation of said member actuating means,

(m) rigid stop members on said frame below said members in positions for engaging the projections on said members that extend downwardly upon downward movement of said ram for limiting the degree of movement of said punch into said recess and adapted to restrain said downward movement of said ram under said pressure.

4. In a construction as defined in claim 3, plus:

(u) said member actuating means including a manually actuatable handle accessible to an operator in a sheet metal handling position at one side of said cross frame member and centrally between said end frame members.

5. In a construction as defined in claim 3, plus:

(11) said projections being adjustable on said members for movement to different distances toward and away from said axis, and

() means for locking said projections rigidly to said members in each adjusted position.

6. In a metal bending machine that includes a rigid frame, a die rotatably supported thereon in a fixed location for rotation about a horizontal axis and a punch supported on said frame vertically over said die for vertical reciprocable movement along a vertical line to and from said die, and power means connected with said punch for downward movement of said punch in a bending operation, the improvement that comprises:

(a) a plurality of radially outwardly opening recesses formed in said die relative to said horizontal axis and of different depths radially of said axis into which said punch is adapted to move to different depths directly proportioned to the depth of the recess that is uppermost upon rotation of said die about said horizontal axis to move the desired one of said recesses to the uppermost side of said side;

(b) a pair of stop means respectively connected with said punch for downward movement as a unit therewith and connected with said frame, the said stop means of said pair being movable into engagement with each other upon said downward movement of said punch to a point a predetermined distance within one of said recesses for stopping said downward movement of said punch at said point;

(e) movable adjusting means connected with one stop means of said pair actuatable for movement to position said one stop means at different distances from the other stop means of said pair corresponding to the different depths of said recesses;

(d) manually actuatable means respectively connected with said die and with said adjusting means in a position at one side of said machine adjacent to one side of said die and accessible to an operator standing at said one side of said die in a position for holding the material to be bent by said punch and die in bending position thereof for rotating said die to move any one of said recesses to uppermost position as desired, and to move the said one of said 10 stop means to a position for engagement by the other stop means at a point corresponding to the depth of the recess that is uppermost whereby said movement of said punch may be varied according to the depth of the recess in said die that is uppermost.

7. A sheet metal binder comprising:

(a) a rigid frame having horizontally spaced stationary die and ram supporting members rigid therewith;

(b) a horizontal elongated die supported at its ends on said members;

(c) a horizontally hydraulically actuated elongated ram having a horizontally elongated punch rigid and parallel therewith and in parallel spaced opposed relation to said die;

(d) means supporting said ram at each of its opposite ends on said members for reciprocable movement of said ram under hydraulic pressure toward and away from said die and into which die said punch enters for bending a sheet of metal adapted to be positioned between said die and said punch when said ram is substantially at the end of its movement toward said die;

(e) means connected with said ram at each of its opposite ends for effecting said reciprocable movement thereof;

(f) a pair of separate means adjacent to each of the ends of said ram respectively carried by said ram and by said members, one of the separate means of each pair thereof comprising a plurality of stop elements and the other of the separate means of each pair thereof being a stop engaging means;

(g) means supporting said stop elements for movement to different predetermined distances from said stop engaging means and to a position at each such distance for engagement with said stop engaging means upon movement of said ram toward said die for positively stopping said movement of said ram, under said hydraulic pressure, upon said engagement, whereby the movement of said ram and punch toward said die will vary according to the distance of said stop members from said stop engaging means;

(h) said stop members adjacent to one end of said ram corresponding to those at the opposite end and,

(i) means connected with the stop members adjacent to the ends of said ram for selectively moving corresponding stop members to each of said predetermined distances, as desired.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,004,829 10/ 11 Verdin et a1 153-21 2,396,814 3/46 Besag 15321 2,456,749 12/48 Steibel 153-21 2,669,276 2/54 Humphrey et a1. 153-21 2,793,584 5/57 Pearson -257 2,797,724 7/57 Walldow 153-21 3,029,858 4/62 Harper 153-21 FOREIGN PATENTS 933,801 11/55 Germany.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SHEET METAL BENDER HAVING (A) A FRAME AND (B) A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED RAM MOUNTED THEREON, WHICH RAM CARRIES (C) A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED PUNCH EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID RAM PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND SECURED TO SAID RAM FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, (D) A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED DIE SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME DIRECTLY BELOW SAID DIE IN A POSITION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID PUNCH, (E) SAID DIE HAVING AN UPWARDLY OPENING ELONGATED RECESS FORMED THEREIN EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID DIE FOR RECEIVING SAID PUNCH THEREIN UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM, (F) POWER MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID RAM FOR MOVING IT DOWNWARDLY FOR SO MOVING SAID PUNCH INTO SAID DIE UNDER PREDETERMINED PRESSURE, (G) A PAIR OF RIGID STOP MEANS RESPECTIVELY ON SAID RAM AND ON SAID FRAME AT EACH OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID RAM ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO CARRY SAID PUNCH TO A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE WITHIN SAID RECESS AND TO POSITIVELY STOP SAID DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PUNCH IMMEDIATELY UPON ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID RIGID STOP MEANS OF EACH PAIR THEREOF AND TO HOLD SAID PUNCH AT SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE UNDER SAID PRESSURE, (H) AND ADJUSTING MEANS CONNECTED WITH ONE MEANS OF SAID PAIR FOR POSITIONING IT DIFFERENT DISTANCES FROM THE OTHER MEANS OF SAID PAIR TO THEREBY LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF SAID PUNCH TO DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED DISTANCES WITHIN SAID RECESS, (I) ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID ADJUSTING MEANS FOR SO POSITIONING SAID ONE MEANS AT SAID DIFFERENT DISTANCES. 